Modified phenolic resin toughened by poly (alkylene oxide) and preparation thereof

Abstract

Modified resole and novolac type phenolic resins which are toughened by poly(alkylene oxide) are disclosed. The modified resole type phenolic resin is prepared by the following steps: mixing a poly(alkylene oxide) having a weight average molecular weight of 100,000.about.8,000,000 and phenol in a weight ratio of poly(alkylene oxide): phenol=1.5:1.about.1:1 at an elevated temperature to form a glutinous mixture; mixing the glutinous mixture with an acid catalyst to obtain a viscous mixture having a relatively low viscosity compared to the glutinous mixture; and mixing the viscose mixture with a resole type phenolic resin. The modified novolac type phenolic resin is prepared by directly mixing the glutinous mixture with a liquid novolac type phenolic resin. The amount of the poly(alkylene oxide) mixed is 2.about.10 wt % based on the phenolic resin.

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